The Trenton Titans had its worst week of the young season, going 0-2, with both losses against Atlantic Division rival Reading. Friday’s game saw the Titans fall at home, 4-2, while falling the next night on the road by a heart-breaking 2-1 final.

Coupled with a home loss to Toledo the week before, the Titans (5-4) are on their first three-game losing streak and have dropped four of the last five since starting the season 4-0. Although still in second place in the Atlantic, the losses are a tough start to a string of five consecutive games with the Royals.

In Game One the Titans fell behind 1-0 with six minutes left in the first. Things remained that way until Bryan Haczyk found the back of the net on the power play with 12:40 gone in the second to tie the game 1-1. Ray DiLauro and Marcel Noebels – who ran his scoring streak to eight games – got the assists.

Any momentum from that goal was short-lived however, as Reading banged home two more goals before the second intermission to take back control. The Royals ran the score to 4-1 midway through the third before Stephen Schultz got his fourth of the year – on a 5-on-3 advantage – with 3:13 left in the game to end the scoring.

Niko Hovinen (1-1), in his first game back since being injured October 17 – also at home against Reading, played well despite taking the loss after a 28-save effort.

Game Two saw the Titans fall into an early 1-0 hole when Yannick Tifu got loose at 4:45 of the first to beat Scott Wedgewood (4-3). But it was Wedgewood’s brilliance in net – making one dramatic save after another – that let it stay that way until the third.

Andy Bohmbach started to turn the tide for Trenton three minutes into the period. After a Jason Akeson steal served up a Schultz blast on Reading goalie Philipp Grubauer, the rebound settled in the crease right on Bohmbach’s stick. The Big Easy had a simple finish to tie the game at 1-1.

But seven minutes later another aggressive play by Reading killed the Titans, as an Alex Berry sprint from the point went unnoticed by Trenton. David Marshall saw him though, laying a perfect pass on Berry’s stick who didn’t miss from in close, scoring the game-winner at 9:23.

Despite his brilliance in net, Wedgewood’s 24-save performance wasn’t enough to keep him from dropping his second consecutive game.

The (Re)View From Atop Mount Olympus
Relief Effort In The Wake Of Hurricane Sandy: The Titans are grateful to the members of Titans Nation who provided relief supplies for those in need following the devastation left behind in Hurricane Sandy’s wake.

Many took advantage of the free ticket offer for each case of water donated during Friday’s contest. Hundreds of cases of water, plus bags containing clothing, toiletries and non-perishable food items, were brought to the Sun National Bank Center last Friday. Those donations were taken the next day by Titans’ staff members, to help residents along the Jersey shoreline try to get back to a sense of normalcy and begin piecing their lives back together.

To continue the help our neighbors in need, the Titans are asking for the following items to be donated, by bringing them to the SNBC again this Friday: Cleaning supplies (mops, brooms, etc), Medicine (Advil, Tylenol, Benadryl, etc), Pull ups/large diapers, Gloves/masks, Vitamins, Chapstick, Lotion, Dog/Cat food, Bottles/storage containers, Sippy cups, Gerber Graduate foods, Tissues and Bags (grocery, reusable, Ziplock). There is a dire need for these items.

Turning Sweet 16…Twice: The Titans have killed off their opponent’s last 16 power play chances. They have also stopped the Royals from converting on the man advantage in their last 16 opportunities.

60-Minute Men: Trenton is the only team in the Eastern Conference not to have played on overtime game.

Until We Meet Again: After this five-game stretch, the Titans and Royals don’t play again until they alternate home games (Trenton has two) right after Christmas, December 27-29.

Finally A Fresh Face: Trenton has yet to see its other divisional foes – Wheeling and Elmira. The Titans will travel to Elmira for two (November 16-17) and see the Nailers for a single in Wheeling November 28th.

Early Bird Gets The Win: Trenton is 5-0 when scoring first and has never trailed in those games (tied 3 times).
Can’t Be Late To The Party: Trenton has given up the first goal of the game four times. In those games the Titans are 0-4 and have never led in any of them.

Eight Was Enough: Failing to get a point in Saturday’s loss, Marcel Noebels saw his point-scoring streak end at eight.

Second Fiddle: Noebels is second in the ECHL in assists among Rookies (7).

(4 Lower Level Tickets, 4 Personal Pan Pizzas, and 4 Small Sodas) - All this for only $64!

The Trenton Titans returned in the 2011-12 hockey season after a five year hiatus and boasted a 26.1% increase in attendance over the previous year, the largest of any team in the (then) 20-team ECHL. For information on promotions, team events or to purchase tickets for the 2012-13 season, call the Titans’ offices at 609-341-1100, or go to TrentonTitansHockey.com.